Light-lock and severing mechanism



INVENTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DaVidLLha John S. Pollock:

BY @WM D. L. CHAMPLIN ETAL LIGHT-LOCK AND SEVERING MECHANISM May 12,1964 Filed April 13, 1961 r fl///v//////////////// 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 13, 1961.

.DaW'd L. C'ham lin/ John 15. P0 l ltflc INVENTOR5 ATT RNEW UnitedStates Patent 3,132,573 LIGHT-LOCK AND SEVERING MECHANHSM David L.Champlin and John S. Pollock, Rochester, N.Y.,

assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,

N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 102,3747 Claims. (Cl. 95-31) This invention relates generally to light-lockmechanisms, and more specifically to a combination light-lock andsevering mechanism for isolating adjacent chambers and selectivelysevering a light sensitive web material transported from one chamber tothe other.

This invention is particularly suited for use in a photographic printerhaving a single printing chamber in which a printing station isinterposed between supply and take-up rolls of photographic material orpaper. The paper is transported from the supply roll through theprinting zone or station where it is exposed and then wound upon thetake-up roll as is well known in the art. Since the photographic paperis light-sensitive, in the event the operator has made a series ofexposures on a portion of the paper and desires to process that portion,it is necessary for the operator to open the printing chamber in adarkened room, sever the exposed portion of the paper and remove it forprocessing. Since this operation must be conducted in a dark room, it isnot unusual for the operator to sever the paper in a wrong place therebyruining one of the exposures or wasting some of the paper. Other obviousdisadvantages are the difiiculty involved and inconvenience of workingin a dark room.

The present invention is believed to obviate these disadvantages byproviding an apparatus having adjacent chambers, each adapted to beclosed off by a door, one chamber housing the supply roll of lightsensitive paper and exposing station, and the other chamber'housing thetake-up roll. The common partition dividing the chambers has an openingthrough which the paper is transported, and the partition is furtherprovided with a lightlock structure movable between an open position inwhich the opening is unobstructed, and a closed position for closingthis opening and isolating the .chambers. A cutting apparatus is mountedin the second chamber for severing the paper, and the light-lockstructure and cutting mechanism are connected together for simultaneousoperation, the cutting mechanism severing the paper as the light-lockstructure is moved into its closed position. The exposed paper is thenwound by the operator onto the take-up roll which is mounted on alighttight removable magazine. The operator may then open the door tothe second chamber and remove the lighttight magazine for processing.All of these operations are performed by the operator in broad daylight.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide animproved combination light-lock and cutting mechanism for a printer orthe like for severing a light-sensitive paper transported through thechambers, and isolating the chambers so that light from one of thechambers, when opened, cannot enter the other chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved printer orthe like having means whereby an exposed portion of light-sensitivepaper may be severed, wound in a lighttight magazine, and removed fromthe printer in broad daylight without exposing the remaininglight-sensitive paper in the printer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a combinedlight-lock and cutting mechanism for a printer or the like of simpledesign and construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation,and economical to manufacture.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improvedprinter or the like having adjacent lighttight supply and take-upchambers, a light-sensitive paper EJ325713 Patented May 12, 1 964 icetransported from the supply to the take-up chamber, and a combinedlight-lock and cutting mechanism for simultaneously severing thelight-sensitive paper and light-locking the supply chamber so that thetake-up chamber may be opened without exposing the light-sensitive paperremaining in the supply magazine.

Objects and advantages of other than those set forth above will beapparent from the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a segmental side elevation view of a portion of a photographicprinter in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention isembodied, the latch device being omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a segmental view with a portion thereof broken away takensubstantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows, the latch mechanism being incorporated therein;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged segmental view of a portion of the structure ofFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the combined light-lock and cuttingmechanism of this invention.

As shown in the drawings, particularly FIG. 1, a portion of a printer isdisclosed having respective supply and takeup chambers 5, t3 separatedby a common partition 7 having a slot opening 3 therein. A lighttighttake-up magazine 9 of any known type is removably secured to the backwall 11 of chamber 6 for rotatably supporting a core, not shown, uponwhich a Web of light-sensitive photographic paper 12 is wound. A similarlighttight supply magazine, not shown, for rotatably supporting a supplyroll of photographic paper is mounted in supply chamber 5, and the paperis transported from the supply magazine through a printing station 13where it is exposed in a well known manner, through opening 8 inpartition '7, around suitable guide rollers 14, and subsequently Woundon a core in take-up magazine 9.

The cutting mechanism 15 for severing the photographic paper 12comprises a fixed blade 16 having a bent flange 17 at one end secured towall 11 by rivets or the like. A movable knife blade 18 is pivotallymounted on a stud 19 carried by fixed blade 16, and the two blades 16,18 co-operate to form a scissors for severing the paper 12 in a wellknown manner. A lever 21 extends through a light-lock proof opening 22in the bottom of chamber 6 and has a bent end 23 extending through anopening in blade 18, and a handle 2- 1- at its other end by which theoperator may pivotally move blade 18 from a non-cutting position to acutting position upon movement of lever 21 from its inoperative positionto its operative position against the bias of its spring 20.

The light-lock mechanism comprises plate 25 adjustably mounted by meansof studs and slots on partition 7 adjacent the upper edge of opening 8.The plate 25 has a strip of felt 26, or similar light-lock material,secured to its underside. Another plate 27 is pivotally mounted on a pin28 secured to partition 7, and further has a strip of felt 29 securedthereto and is adapted when moved from an open poistion to a closedposition to co-operate with plate 25 to cover slot 8 and prevent anylight leak into supply chamber 5. The plate 27 has a rib 31 engageableby end 23 of lever 21, and plate 27 and blade 18 are simultaneouslymoved into their respective closed and cutting positions upon movementof lever 21 to its operative position. When lever 21 is released, spring20 returns it to its inoperative position.

A latch device 32 for the light-lock mechanism 15 as seen best in FIGS.3 and 4 comprises a base member 33 secured to partition '7, and asupport bracket 34 adjustably mounted on base 33 by means of studs 35. Apawl 36 is pivotally mounted on bracket 34- at 37 and has a bent end 38urged by a spring 39 interposed between bracket 34 and pawl 36 against aspring arm 41 extending from bracket 34. The bent end 38 of pawl 36further forms a catch for a projection 42 on the other end of plate 27.The bracket 34 and pawl 36 are properly positioned so that projection42, upon pivotal movement of plate 27 behind arm 41 to its closedposition, engages end 38. of pawl 36 and cams it in a counter clockwisedirection against the bias of spring 39. When projection 42 moves pastthe end 38 of pawl 36, the pawl returns to its original position,positioning its end 38 below projection 42 for releasably holding plate27 in its closed position as seen in FIG. 4. The spring arm 41 ofbracket 34 bears against projection 42 for moving plate 27 into tightengagement with partition 7.

A release mechanism 40 for latch device 32 comprises a base member 43secured to partition 7 for adjustably supporting a support bracket 44 bymeans of studs 45. The bracket 44 has spaced apart flanges 46 havingopen- 'mgs therein for slidably receiving a slider 47. The slider 47 hasa pin 48 extending therethrough, and a helical spring 49 interposedbetween-one of the flanges 46 and pin 48 for urging slider 47 outwardly.An arm 51 is secured to one end of slider 47 and pivotally supports atoggle member 52 which is biased by a spring 53 in a counter clockwisedirection causing one end thereof to engage arm 51. The opposite end 54of toggle 52 is adapted upon inward movement of slider 47 to engage abeveled, or inclined ear 55 formed on the opposite end of pawl 36 forcamming the pawl in a counter clockwise direction withdrawing its end 38from projection 42 for releasing plate 27. Upon movement of slider 47 inthe opposite direction by virtue of spring 49, the toggle end 54 engagesear of pawl 36, which is prevented from moving therealong by virtue ofarm 41, causingtoggle 52 to be moved in a clockwise direction againstthe bias of its spring 53 as end 54 passes underneath ear 55. When end54 clears ear 55, toggle 52 is returned to its original position, but isnow on the opposite side of ear 55 as seen in FIG. 4 and in position toengage it upon inward movement of slider 47. The opposite end of slider47 is engageable by a door 56 as seen in FIG. 2 to take-up chamber 6,and the reciprocal movement of slider 47 is controlled by the openingand closing of door 56.

In the operation of this invention, let us assume initially that take-upchamber door 56 is opened, light-lock plate 27 is in its open positionand cutting blade 18 in its non-cutting position. The operator wouldthen turn on the light and in the darkened room would thread thephotographic paper 12 through printing station 13, opening 8 and onto acore in take-up magazine 9. The operator then closes door 56, turns onthe light, and the printer is in position for operation.

Let us assume that the operator runs off a series of exposures on thephotographic paper 12 and desires to immediately process the exposedportion of paper. The operator initially advances photographic paper 12until the last exposure is clear of cutting mechanism 15. The operatorthen grasps handle 24 of lever 21 and moves it upwardly to its operativeposition against the bias of spring 20 causing cutting blade 18 andlight-lock plate 27 to simultaneously move into their respective cuttingand closed positions for severing the photographic paper and closingopening 8 in partition 7 between the respective supply and take-upchambers 5, 6. Upon release of lever 21, plate 27 is releasably retainedin its closed position by end 33 of pawl 36 while blade 18 is returnedto its non-cutting position by virtue of spring 20. The operator thenwinds up the exposed portion of paper 12 into the light tight magazine9, and when the wind-up is completed, turns on the light and opens thetake-up chamber door 56 whereupon slider 47 moves outwardly positioningits toggle 52 on the opposite side of car 36. The operator removes lighttight magazine 9 from take-up chamber 6 for processing, and positionsanother magazine in the take-up chamber. He then splices a leader ontothe end of the paper remaining in take-up chamber 6 and attaches theother end of the leader to the core of take-up magazine 9. The operatorthen closes door 56 to take-up chamber 6 which engages slider 47 andurges it inwardly causing toggle end 54 to engage car 55 and pivot pawl36 in a counter clockwise direction to release light-lock plate 27 whichis moved by gravity to its open position. The operator may then continuethe operation of the printer.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appendedclaims.

We claim:

1. In a light-lock and severing mechanism for isolating adjacentchambers having a common partition and severing a light-sensitive webtransported from one chamber through an opening in the partition to theother chamber, the combination comprising: light-lock means including aportion thereof movable from a normal open position in which saidpartition opening is unobstructed to a closed position in which saidopening is closed; cutting means including a blade movable betweennon-cutting and cutting positions for severing said web; means movablefrom an inoperative position to an operative position for simultaneouslymoving said movable portion and said blade to their respective closedand cutting positions; and latch means for releasably holding saidmovable portion in its closed position upon return of said moving meansand said blade to their respective inoperative and non-cuttingpositions.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein one of said chambers has adoor, and release means are provided for said latch means, said releasemeans being responsive to the closing of said door to release said latchmeans.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said latch means comprisesa spring biased pivotal pawl engageable with said movable portion.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said latch means comprisesa spring biased pivotal pawl engageable with said movable portion, saidpawl having an ear at one end thereof, and said release means comprisesa reciprocably movable spring biased slider, said slider having a springbiased toggle at one end thereof adapted to pass under said car whensaid slider is moved by its spring in one direction, and to engage saidear and urge said pawl out of engagement with said movable portion forreleasing same when said slider is moved in the opposite direction.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein one of D said chambers hasa door which is adapted when closed to engage the opposite end of saidslider and urge it in the opposite direction.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said movable portioncomprises a light-lock plate, and said moving means comprises areciprocably movable lever extending into one of said chambers andhaving a handle at one end, and its opposite end connected to said bladeand further adapted to engage said plate.

7. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said plate is pivotal andhas a rib engageable by said opposite end of said lever, said oppositeend further passing through an opening in said blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,976,594 Anderson Oct. 9, 1934 2,095,849 Whittel Oct. 12, 19372,420,046 Loeb May 6, 1947 2,545,196 Curioni Mar. 13, 1951 2,663,514McArthur Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No, 3,132,573 May 12, 1964 David L. Champlin et al.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 4, line 63 for the claim reference numeral "7" read 6 Signed andsealed this 20th day of October 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents UNITED STATES PATENT @TTTQE CERTIFICATE 0F CURRETTN Patent No.3,132 ,573 May 12 1964 David L. Champlin et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 4, line 63 for the claim reference numeral "7" read 6 Signed andsealed this 20th day of October 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN A LIGHT-LOCK AND SEVERING MECHANISM FOR ISOLATING ADJACENTCHAMBERS HAVING A COMMON PARTITION AND SEVERING A LIGHT-SENSITIVE WEBTRANSPORTED FROM ONE CHAMBER THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE PARTITION TO THEOTHER CHAMBER, THE COMBINATION COMPIRSING: LIGHT-LOCK MEANS INCLUDING APORTION THEREOF MOVABLE FROM A NORMAL OPEN POSITION IN WHICH SAIDPARTITION OPENING IS UNOBSTRUCTED TO A CLOSED POSITION IN WHICH SAIDOPENING IS CLOSED; CUTTING MEANS INCLUDING A BLADE MOVABLE BETWEENNON-CUTTING